Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has unveiled his first cabinet, appointing a former commerce minister to lead efforts to stabilise the struggling economy while keeping the defence ministry under his own control.
Rahman took oath on Tuesday following a sweeping electoral victory, replacing the interim government that had been in charge since the violent 2024 uprising that removed the long-standing administration of Sheikh Hasina. The country of 170 million now looks to the new leadership for stability after months of unrest.
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A 50-member cabinet was announced through an official gazette late Tuesday. Among the key appointments is 76-year-old businessman and seasoned politician Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, who returns to head the finance ministry. He has been assigned the crucial responsibility of restoring economic growth after prolonged instability shook investor confidence in Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest garment exporter.
Chowdhury previously served in the government of Rahman’s late mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, but resigned in 2004. Media reports at the time linked his resignation to the approval granted for Taiwan to establish a commercial office in Dhaka, though he has not publicly addressed the matter. During Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure, he was detained multiple times in what opposition figures described as politically motivated cases.
Rahman, 60, has assumed the defence portfolio himself as his administration confronts serious national and regional challenges. These include maintaining internal security and bridging divisions in a politically polarised nation.
Bangladesh’s geopolitical position adds further complexity. The country borders India, where tensions remain elevated, and Myanmar, where ongoing clashes have affected frontier areas. Bangladesh also continues to host over one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar.
Khalilur Rahman, an experienced diplomat and former United Nations official, has been appointed foreign minister. Educated in Dhaka and the United States, he previously managed the security portfolio in the caretaker administration and played a role in trade negotiations with Washington. He now faces the delicate task of managing regional diplomacy, particularly after relations with India cooled during the interim period while Dhaka strengthened engagement with Pakistan.
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar extended congratulations to his new counterpart, expressing hope for strengthened cooperation between the two nations.
Prime Minister Rahman is scheduled to chair his first cabinet meeting later this week. The newly formed cabinet comprises senior politicians, former ministers, academics and party members, reflecting a broad mix of experience and political loyalty.